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Learn

Using 3D as a learning tool
Reconstruct

Reconstruct from remains
Investigate

Investigate provenance of heritage artefacts
Interpret

Interpret archaeological remains

Learn

Museum artefacts come in a seemingly limitless range of shapes, colours, sizes and materials, all of which pose challenges when trying to create 3D models.

Reconstruct

An iconic Italian statue, La Madonna di Pietrannico, was destroyed by an earthquake in 2009. Conservators harnessed the power of technology to scan fragments from the statue and piece together a virtual reconstruction from the jigsaw puzzle of remains.

Investigate

The Louvre in Paris used 3D technology to compare three glazed ceramic vases. Experts at the department of Islamic Antiquities knew that one, the Rifaat vase, was produced in Granada Spain, during the 14th or 15th century. They aimed to show that the two other vases came from the same mould as the Rifaat vase.

Interpret

Beneath the modern city of Naples lie the partially hidden remains of a Roman theatre. It is a remarkable survival, but a complex site to understand. To unlock the theatre's past, evidence from archaeological excavations is being used to create 3D models. These allow archaeologists to explore how the theatre was built and used.

Access

The latest technology for 3D acquisition of artefacts with complex materials will be available for you to test. To learn more about how to access this read more.

Seminars

We have prepared an exciting programme of seminars to learn more about the technology behind the exhibits and how to get access to them. For a calendar of activities, see here.

In the media

To see more information about the technologies developed by 3D-COFORM for this exhibition, have a look at this article.

Latest tweets

Reshaping History

A Future for our Past

Discover how the world of 3D is helping to reveal the secrets of our cultural heritage.

3D technology is everywhere today. From films and gaming to laptops and TV screens, creating objects in three dimensions has never been so easy or the expertise so advanced. Now heritage organisations are harnessing the power of 3D – for research, presentation and conservation.

By taking a fresh look at some of the most iconic sites and artefacts in the world, this exhibition may change the way you view them forever.